Inside Martine Croxall's year away from the cameras: How presenter, 55, suing ... trends now

BBC presenter Martine Croxall has been delighting viewers on screen for more than three decades.

But the 55-year-old broadcaster has spent the last 12 months travelling the world after being left in limbo along with a number of other high-profile presenters when the BBC's News and World News channels merged last April.

Croxall is used to reading out the headlines, but this week she has found herself at the centre of them - as she was joined by four other senior colleagues in launching a legal battle against the BBC for age and sex discrimination. 

Karin Giannone, 50, Geeta Guru-Murthy, 56, Kasia Madera, 48, and Annita McVeigh, 46, are also involved in the bombshell case, according to US news agency Deadline. It follows a high-profile equal pay dispute between the BBC and presenter Samira Ahmed in 2020.

While preparing to take legal action against her company, Croxall has certainly made the most of her year off-air - enjoying trips to Mexico, Bulgaria and Thailand to name but a few.

During her time off, she went swimming with whale sharks and sea lions in the Gulf of California, zipwired over a canyon in Mexico and fed elephants at a sanctuary in Phuket.

That's on top of taking a hot balloon over the pyramids in Mexico and venturing on two ski trips, including one where she was seen relaxing in a massive hot tub after spending a day on the slopes. 

Croxall signed off for the last time on March 31 2023. Posting a video on social media to her fans, the experienced broadcaster said: 'As you probably know a single BBC News channel will be with you from Monday.

'This is me signing off from the BBC News channel in its current iteration from my happy place - Studio E. It has been the greatest privilege to broadcast to you from here all this time. Thank you for joining us.'

But she confirmed her return in February - almost a year after she was first axed by the BBC - delighting fans that she would be back soon.

While celebrating her 55th birthday, the presenter was asked if viewers would see her back on their screens soon. She responded: 'Yes my birthday is today and I have been thoroughly spoiled. Will be back on air in a few weeks. Take care of yourself. 

'I will be back,' she added. Just working out the details.'

Two weeks later, she posted a photo with the four BBC presenters she is taking legal action with. Alongside a picture of her, Giannone, Geeta Guru-Murthy, Kasia Madera and McVeigh, she wrote: 'Rarely seen in the same room together but it's magic when it happens!'

In May, she spent 'four glorious days in the Swiss Alps' and posted selfies of her beaming in the sunlight in Sion, Canton Du Valais.

A week later she then met up with Giannone and McVeigh again, captioning a group selfie 'three presenters going Out Out'.

Croxall, whose posts often feature comments asking when she will be back on screens, also had a day out at the Epsom Races in June after being invited by Clare Balding and Alice Arnold.

The presenter then continued filling her busy calendar by taking a trip to Morestel in France where she was seen indulging in the local cuisine and wise.

As she continued to post photos from her various summer trips, one follower quipped: 'Are you ever in the UK??!' Croxall replied: '99% of the time!'

But the jet-setting presenter was off on holiday again in October, this time spending a few days in the Tremiti Islands off Puglia.

In November, she then flew out to Phuket, Thailand, where she visited Buddhist temples, enjoyed boat trips and Tuk-Tuk rides and spent a day at an elephant sanctuary with 'friends old and new'. 

One social media user joked: 'Break done you good, innit!'

The presenter then briefly returned to London but was back on her way again in January, this time making the most of the snow on a ski trip in the Bulgarian mountains. In one post, she was seen relaxing in a spa 'after a day on reds and blacks'. 

Croxall then travelled to Bulgaria's capital, Sofia, for a day trip before heading home.

Last month, Croxall continued her adventures around the world as she explored the Valle De Los Monjes area in Chihuahua, Mexico. In one post, she was seen posing in a swimming pool, surrounded by stunning mountains.

Clearly making the most of her time off, she then zipwired over the Copper Canyon before setting off to La Paz where she swam with whale sharks and sea lions in the Gulf of California.

She finished off her year of memorable holidays by spending some time in Mexico City where she went up in a hot air balloon over the Teotihuacán pyramids. 

Her Mexican trip, where she created 'memories to last a lifetime' came to an end on March 18 - and she has not shared any photos since. 

Alongside her travels, Croxall also publicly backed McVeigh and Gury-Murthy when they returned to our screens.

'Great to see Anita back on air again! #shesback,' Ms Croxall wrote on X following McVeigh's return last month.

And upon Guru-Murthy's return - also last month - she wrote: 'Straight back into the fray! Good to see Geeta Guru-Murthy in the BBC New hot seat. #shesback.'           

Croxall and her four colleagues are set to take

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